Speaking more than one language is like living more than one life, one of the ancient philosophers said.

And it’s true — traveling in a foreign country such as Russia suddenly becomes a lot more exciting when you can engage in elegant small talk with a hotel receptionist, compliment your tour guide’s dress, or actually read the menu and order the food that you really want.
Being able to ask for things instead of pointing at them and getting directions from the locals instead of staring at a map are some of the little things that make you feel at home.

You don’t even need to cross the ocean to immerse yourself in Russian culture; you can find little Russian neighborhoods (or even pretty big ones!) in many American cities.
Whether your colleagues, your neighbors, or your friends speak Russian, the best way to win their hearts is to speak their language to them.
Now, Russian For Dummies won’t make you a fluent reader of Dostoevsky in the original (most Russians themselves need somewhat of a preparation forthat).
It will, however, equip you with phrases necessary to function in many life situations, from shopping to visiting the theater.
And little gems of cultural wisdom offered throughout the book help you not only translate the language, but also understand Russians so much better.

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